Co-chair Kevin Lowe is the longest serving volunteer at the Edmonton Christmas Bureau. He has taken part for 28 years.
“To date, I have not found a Christmas program more comprehensive than the one here in Edmonton,” said Lowe.
“You hear of all the poverty and disaster in the world but there is poverty here in Edmonton, too - here it’s working people, families, the retired.”
The bureau was established in 1940, originally helping 1,070 families.
Today, the organization receives referrals for the program from agencies including Boyle Street, Salvation Army, Bissell Centre, Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council and others.
Christmas Bureau kicks off season of giving, 2010. Edmonton Sun
In 1961, the Christmas Bureau served 1,600 families. By 1970, over 15,000 Edmontonians received assistance in the form of gift certificates and food hampers.
“The need is mind boggling, and a reminder of how many families are less fortunate in our very community. And though Santas Anonymous has, thankfully, been providing this wonderful service in Edmonton for 55 years now, it is also stunning that they haven’t yet secured a permanent home to conduct their business (the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit, which will house Santas Anonymous, as well as other non-profit organizations, is not slated to be completed until 2013).”
Playing Elves for Santas Anonymous, Only Here for the Food, 2010.
“Over 40 Twitter users from Edmonton and area got together to wrap, sort, and bag toys for the charity. The group, made up of a lot of people who had never even met before Friday, managed to work smoothly, wrapping 700 gifts in just under three hours. Which, although a lot of gifts, was not a record for the charity.”
Local Twitter Users Wrap Toys for 630CHED Santas Anonymous, Brittney’s Le Blog, iNews880.com, 2009
